Friday, 25 April 2014

This excerpt from the interview with Pope Francis, titled: 'A Big Heart Open to God', teaches us much about the man himself and about who we are and what we are called to do.

Many exclaim: "where did this Pope come from?" and "where did he get such fiery charisma?" The answer is that he, the man whom the 'Time' magazine named person of the year, developed his charisma, identity and freedom to love, from the source of Life and Love Itself: Jesus, who is truly and really present in the Blessed Sacrament. What Pope Francis reveals about himself in sharing his preferred way to pray, is that he shares what is at the heart of his daily life and is thus the greatest love of his life: Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament.

Our present Pope, in continuity with his recent predecessors, shares that his most preferred way to pray is in Eucharistic Adoration. Is this not a profound reminder to us to engage in constant and regular prayer, especially in Adoration before the exposed Blessed Sacrament? "O, but he's the Pope!" exclaim many Catholics, as if the Pope is beyond imitation and is only to be revered with awe at a distance. Yet has not our Pope showed himself to be a common man in touch with his fellow men? Does he not wear the cheapest watch available on the market in Italy? Has he not washed the feet of prisoners and brought healing to those with illnesses and disfigurements? Yes, he has done all these things, and perhaps one may comment: "I cannot do these great things."

Yet there is something that we can do, something that we can all do, just as Pope Francis himself does. We like Pope Francis can commit ourselves to a daily Holy Hour, or if this proves to be impossible, to at least commit to a few hours of Adoration a week or to a weekly Holy Hour in our local Catholic Church or chapel of Adoration. If the Pope thinks that he needs this daily hour of intimacy with God through a relationship with Jesus in the Eucharist, then it is certainly not far fetched to think that perhaps we also need this daily hour of intimacy with God.

Here is a few quotes on the significance of the Eucharist and the Holy Hour:

"The holy hour in our modern rat race is necessary for authentic prayer. Our world is one of speed in which intensity of movement is a substitute for lack of purpose; where noise is invoked to drown out the whisperings of conscience; where talk, talk, talk gives the impression that we are doing something when really we are not; where activity kills self-knowledge won by contemplation…" Archbishop Fulton Sheen

"The Eucharist, behold the Christian's treasure, his delight on earth. Since Jesus is in the Eucharist for him personally, his whole life ought to be drawn to it like a magnet to its center."St. Peter Julian Eymard

"A thousand years of enjoying human glory is not worth even an hour spent sweetly communing with Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament." St. Padre Pio

The gentleness, love and joy that Pope Francis has brought to the world stage, and has drawn to the attention of many, is but a mere reflection of the Eternal Gentleness, Love and Joy of Jesus Christ Himself who is present in the Blessed Sacrament. Pope Francis is a living testimony of the power and love of Jesus, a power and love that did, still has, and will forever be available to transform all who enter into a relationship with He who is waiting for us in the Holy Eucharist.

Behold o world, this man of whom you gaze upon in wonder; and look to the One whom he is bearing, the One prophesied of old, the One who became man 2000 years ago in order to sacrifice Himself to pay the debt of our sins on our behalf. The One who was crucified, died and was buried, yet rose again from the dead so as to win for us the delight of Eternal Life.

Let us not just gape in awe at the brilliance of the ring, but approach the Diamond of Christ Jesus whom is firmly set in this great but simple man of God. We too can be bearers of this Diamond, if only we spend time in Eucharistic Adoration whereby this Great Diamond will be set firmly within us. Yet first of all we must go to the Diamond of the Holy Eucharist and encounter through faith the hidden yet universally accessible Brilliance of Christ Jesus. A brilliance the world has beheld through and in Pope Francis, yet a brilliance to which we are all called to possess in our hearts.

This is the secret of Pope Francis' magnetic allure and joy. He tells us himself: "What I really prefer" says Pope Francis, "is Adoration".

Sunday, 20 April 2014

From
the labour of love on the Bed of the Cross, to the slumber of death of He on
the Cross. From the slumber of death of He in the tomb, to the arising of He in
Resurrected glory; for the sake of she, the soul His bride, His love.

Wednesday, 16 April 2014

Let us unite with Jesus through our
most Sweet Mother in the Joyful Mysteries; as we pray, unite and love our Joyful
Lord and Mother on behalf of ourselves and all souls, from Adam to the last
man.

1. The Annunciation

"Do not be
afraid, Mary, for you have found favour with God. And behold, you will conceive
in your womb and bear a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus." Luke 1:30-31

Drawn and attracted by the irresistible
aroma of your lowliness, the Word of God descends, knocking on your heart
through the message of Gabriel the Archangel. As Gabriel speaks to you, all
creation and heaven remain still in the quiet of listening, awaiting for the
words of your consent. And then pronouncing your “fiat”, your “yes”, you open
the door of your being to your God; and it is then that the marvel of marvels
takes place. You conceive by the Holy Spirit and the Eternal Word of God is
made flesh in your womb! O Eternal God, I hide my fiat in the Fiat of Mary, and
take her humility in order to make it my own; so that lathered in the
irresistible scent of my Mother’s lowliness, You may be compelled to descend
into my soul, so as to give it the sealing and eternal kiss of Your Divinity.

And with the voice of Mary let us pray: "Let
it be done unto me according to Thy Word."

2. The Visitation

"Blessed are you
among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! And why is this granted to
me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?" Luke 1:42-43

Motivated by perfect love for
neighbour, you make gleeful haste up the hill country of Judea; yearning to
bring the presence of Jesus to your friends. As you arrive at the house of
Elizabeth, you shout forth the sweetest of greetings; and making haste to come
to you Elizabeth speaks, saying: “blessed are you among women and blessed is
the fruit of your womb…for when I heard your greeting the baby in my womb
leaped for joy.” O dearest Mother, I take your womb and make it my own, so that
together we may visit every soul throughout all the ages, so as to bring Jesus
to everyone; so that like the babe, John the Baptist, all souls may leap in the
joy of Salvation.

And with the voice of Mary let us pray: "Come
to us o Jesus, and visit Thy people."

3. The Birth of Jesus

"Mary gave birth
to her first-born Son and wrapped Him in swaddling clothes, and laid Him in a
manger, because there was no room for them in the inn." Luke 2:7

Without being able to find a place at
an inn, you and St. Joseph take refuge in a cave that is being used as a
stable. It is there in poverty that God the Father has willed you to give birth
to the Saviour of the World. In your Immaculacy you give birth without any
pangs; as Divine Love Itself emerges from your womb in the form and flesh of a
newborn babe. Without wanting to be selfish you make the supreme sacrifice of
placing Jesus in the manger, so that all might be able to adore the Sweet
Infant Jesus. With you o Mother, with St. Joseph, the shepherds and the angels,
I adore with delightful joy the little Lord Jesus on behalf of myself and all
souls. O furthermore I ask you dearest Mother, would you make my heart a lowly
manger, wherein our baby Jesus may take delight to dwell?

And with the voice of Mary let us pray: "Rest
now in the manger of my heart little Jesus."

4. The Presentation of Jesus in the Temple

"And when the
days of her purification were fulfilled according to the Law of Moses, they
took Him up to Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord." Luke 2:22-23

O Mary and Joseph I surrender myself
into your hands, so that you might offer me to Christ your Son, the Great High
Priest; so that I might be consecrated as a Living Host, raised high in the
hands of the Son for the glory of God the Father and for the salvation of all
souls.

And with the voice of Mary let us pray: "Teach
me to be obedient to the Law of Thy Will."

5. The Finding of the
Child Jesus in the Temple

"And it came to
pass after three days, that they found Him in the temple, sitting in the midst
of the teachers, both listening to them and asking them questions" Luke 2:46

We unite with you o Mary and Joseph in
the three days of darkness you suffered without the Lord Jesus. We ask that you
would obtain for us and all souls, the grace of an unfailing faith and hope in
times of privation and desolation. We unite also with you in encountering the
joy of finding Jesus in the Temple, listening to and teaching the doctors of
the Law; all of whom are enraptured by the wisdom of your Holy Child. We also ask
for the grace that we might find evermore, again and again, the little Child
Jesus in the depths of ourselves, our neighbours, in Creation and in the Most
Blessed Sacrament of the Altar. And each time upon finding our Sweet Jesus, let
us be filled with the joy of His childish cheek: “Did you not know that I must
be in my Father’s house?”

And with the voice of Mary let us pray: "Guide
us Holy Spirit and help us to find our Lord!"

Sunday, 6 April 2014

Let
us unite with Jesus through our most Sweet Mother in the Glorious Mysteries; as
we pray, repair and unite with our Glorious Lord and Mother, on behalf of
ourselves and all souls, from Adam to the last man.

1.The Resurrection of Christ

"‘Do not be
afraid; for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here; for
He has risen, as He said.’" Mark 1:10

On the third day our Lord Jesus Christ
rose from the dead; conquering sin, death and the grave. Mistaking our Lord to
be a gardener, Mary of Magdala distraughtly asked our Lord “"Sir, if you
have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him
away”, since she supposed someone had stolen the body of Jesus. “Mary!” our
Lord exclaimed, and recognising Him she shouted “Rabboni!” and embraced Him.
Yet kindly rebuking her He said: “Do not hold me, for I have not yet ascended
to the Father; but go to my brethren and say to them, I am ascending to my
Father and your Father, to my God and your God.” It is thus that You o Lord,
teach us the urgency of the truth of the Resurrection; help us therefore to
make haste in proclaiming the message of the Resurrection. And in order to
proclaim this great truth, we ask that the Joy of the Resurrection would shine
forth on our faces. Then allow us o Lord, to drown all the world’s darkness in
the Light of Your Resurrection, so that all that is dark may be converted into
Light.

And with the voice of Mary let us pray: “Come
o Risen Lord and visit Thy people.”

2. The Ascension of
Christ into Heaven

"So then the Lord
Jesus, after he had spoken to them, was taken up into heaven, and sat down at
the right hand of God.” Mark 16:19

With the body of St. Joseph hidden in
the cloud, our Lord Jesus ascended into heaven, to be seated at the right hand
of God the Father Almighty. And as our Lord ascended, the disciples with their
gazed fixed on heaven remained looking upwards. We ask o Lord that our gaze would also remained fixed on You; so that through the sure confidence
of our hope, we may possess now our true-life in Eternity with You. And as we
hide ourselves with St. Joseph in the cloud of Your ascension; we wrap
ourselves with the consoling dew of Your promise: “I am with you always, to the
close of the age.” We now only wait with longing hope for Your glorious return.

And with the voice of Mary let us pray: "Come
o Lord, we await Thy triumphant return!”

3. The Descent of the
Holy Spirit on Pentecost

“And they were all
filled with the Holy Spirit and begun to speak in foreign tongues, even as the Spirit
gave them utterance." Acts 2:4

After nine days of prayer in the upper
room, tongues of fire gushed forth from the Uncreated Womb of the Holy Spirit. Thus
born anew in the confidence of God’s Love, the Apostles boldly went forth wielding
the Sword of the Gospel; cutting hearts and winning souls for the Kingdom. We beseech
You o God to pour forth the Fire of Divine Love into our hearts; so that
consumed by the Desires of the Holy Spirit, we may be reduced to ash, so as to
be recreated into New Adam’s; who with the Lips of the Holy Spirit shall adore
You forever and ever.

And with the voice of Mary let us pray: "Send forth Thy
Spirit o Lord and we shall be created."

4. The Assumption of
Mary into Heaven

"Since we
believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring
with Him those who have fallen asleep." 1 Thessalonians 4:14

Our Lord could not let His beloved come
to know decay, for from You o Mother came our Lord’s most Holy Flesh. He therefore
assumed You body and soul into heaven. And as You arrive in paradise o Mother, You
behold Your Resurrected Son smiling with ineffable joy; and you smiling also,
run playfully towards Him, embracing Him with an affection never before seen; causing
the angles and saints to swoon with delight. In this mother of all embraces, is
contained all the holy embraces of the people of Israel the Church. So taking
Your arms most pure, we repeat this Holy Embrace by embracing Jesus present in
each and every Host that has ever been and will be consecrated. We also ask o
dearest Mother that You would kiss our every word, thought, prayer and action,
with the irresistible perfume of Your Assumption; so that in everything we are and do the Holy Trinity may perpetually experience the delight and feast of
Your Assumption.

And with the voice of Mary let us pray: "Grant
all souls o Lord, the grace of a happy death.”

5. The Coronation of
the Blessed Virgin Mary

"A great sign
appeared in heaven, a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet,
and on her head a crown of twelve stars." Revelation 12:1

O hail Queen of Heaven and Earth, and
Queen of all Hearts! We consecrate ourselves and all souls to Your Queenly and
Motherly care; requesting that You give unto us Your very own true and
unwavering fidelity to God, so that in all things we may be pleasing to Him. O petition
our Beloved Jesus to extend His blessing upon all souls; be they in heaven, purgatory
or on earth. We request also o dearest Queen, that we would come to reign
together with You in the Kingdom of the Divine Will. And finally we ask in a
special way that we would be truly devoted to o Queen, by living and dying for
love of Jesus our dearest King!

And with the voice of Mary let us pray: "Conquer
us o Lord, and fill us with Thy Trust"

Let
us unite with Jesus through our most Sweet Mother in the Luminous Mysteries; as
we pray, repair and unite with our Luminous Lord and Mother on behalf of
ourselves and all souls, from Adam to the last man.

1.The Baptism of Christ in the Jordan River

"The Spirit
descended like a dove on Him. And a voice came from heaven, ‘You are my Son,
the Beloved; and with You I am well pleased." Mark 1:10

O Glorious Saviour, in order to restore
us to a rightful relationship with Your Father, You humbled Yourself to receive
baptism from the hands of John the Baptist. “He must increase, but I must
decrease” spoke John; for he knew who You were. I too know who You are o Lord;
yet I ask that in all humility, ‘would You immerse Yourself in the river of my
will, so that sanctified it may be one with the River of Your Will? For it is
then that making Your ears my own, I too shall hear the Voice of the Father
within: “‘You are my Son, the Beloved; and with You I am well pleased.”

And with the voice of Mary let us pray: "Open
my heart to Your Spirit o Lord."

2. The Wedding at
Cana

"Jesus changed
water into wine, the first of His signs, and revealed His glory; and His
disciples believed in Him." John 2:11

Our Lady the Virgin Mary, noticing that
the hosts had begun to run out of wine, spoke to the servants in all
discreetness and love: “Go, do whatever He tells you.” And You o Lord, despite
your complaint that Your hour had not yet come, are swayed by the irresistible
charm of Your Mother’s voice; and thus You say to the servants: “‘Fill the jars
with water.’ And they filled them up to the brim”; and then instructing them
You say: “‘now draw some out, and take it to the steward of the feast.” And by
the time the steward tasted the water it had turned into wine. Then the steward
calling the bridegroom said: “‘Every man serves the good wine first…then the
poor wine; but you have kept the good wine until now.’” O we beg You o Lord,
work this miracle in all souls, by transforming the water of our humanity into
the finest wine of Your Divinity.

And with the voice of Mary let us pray: "Make
us drunk on the wine of Your Love o Lord."

3. The Proclamation
of the Kingdom & the Call to Repentance

“‘The time is
fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent, and believe in the gospel." Mark 1:15

Preaching the message of repentance,
You call all people to enter into the Kingdom of God, the Kingdom of Peace,
Justice and Joy. By casting out devils You make it known that the kingdom of
God is at hand, and that the reign of Satan has ended. We ask that You invest
our every word, thought, prayer and action with Your Power o Word; so that all
that we are and do proclaim in ceaseless acclamation: “Thy Kingdom come, Thy
Will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.”

And with the voice of Mary let us pray: "Give
us a profound trust in You o Lord."

4. The Transfiguration
of Christ on Mt. Tabor

"He was
transfigured before them, and His face shone like the sun, and His garments
became dazzling white." Matthew 17:2

As Moses representing the Law, and
Elijah representing the prophets, spoke with You O Lord, about how the Messiah
must suffer and die; You manifested Your Glory to Peter, James and John.
Transfigured, Your countenance blazed with the Glory of Your Divinity; shining
more brilliantly than the sun. We ask that You would ‘expand in us O Divine
Sun, until Thou burst forth with the all consuming gasp of Thy flame!’ And
taking this Fire of Divine Love, we set ablaze all hearts with a desperate desire
to be one with You for ever.

And with the voice of Mary let us pray: "Come,
manifest Your Glory o Lord!"

4. The Institution of
the Holy Eucharist at the Last Supper

"He took the
bread, gave thanks, broke it and gave it to them, saying, ‘This is my body,
which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me." Luke 22:19

As You raise the Pearl of Great Price
in Your hands; a raging river of light gushes forth throughout all space, time
and eternity. Uniting with the Apostles in the act of Adoration, we ask to be
clothed in this light, so that we may blind You o God, with Your very own Love,
and Your very own Glory. O send forth Your Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Perpetual
Adoration, so that all may come to feast upon this Celestial Bread of the Father’s
Will. And now with Mary our Mother we make flight so as to receive You in every
reception of Holy Communion ever made. And finally, falling prostrate before
You, we adore You present in every Host throughout the ages; so as to make reparation
for all those who ignore and reject You in this Host of Love.

And with the voice of Mary let us pray: "We
praise and adore You o Lord!"

Thursday, 3 April 2014

Let us unite with Jesus through our most Sweet Mother in the Sorrowful Mysteries; as we pray, repair and console our Sorrowful Lord and Mother on behalf of ourselves and all souls, from Adam to the last man.

1. The Agony in the Garden

"And His sweat became as drops of blood running down upon the ground. And rising from prayer He came to the disciples, and found them sleeping." Luke 22:44-45

In the Garden of Gethsemane our Lord beheld all the sins, all the adulteration's and lusts of us His unfaithful brides. In the still and heavy darkness of that night, our Lord wept with the bitter pains of being betrayed and cheated on by the sins of mankind. In Mary His faithful Bride, let us console our Lord with the many hours of intimacy spent by souls in Adoration.

And with the voice of Mary let us pray: "Together with You my Love, let me weep tears of sorrow."

2. The Scourging at the Pillar

"Pilate, wishing to satisfy the crowd, released for them Barabbas; and having scourged Jesus, he delivered Him to be crucified." Mark 15:15

Drunk with lust and blinded by love for sin, souls incessantly scourge our Lord's Flesh; leaving behind deep wounds and painful incisions. Yet just as the sweet fragrance exudes from the myrrh tree when it is bruised and cut, so too does the Flesh of our Lord permeate the Myrrh of His love. Let us sooth our Beloved Lord's Flesh with the balm of Divine Love; and let us hide the stench of the world's lust, by perfuming each soul with the Myrrh of Christ's Love.And with the voice of Mary let us pray:"Together with You my Love, let me be scourged."

3. The Crowning with Thorns

"And they stripped Him and put on Him a scarlet cloak; and plaiting a crown of thorns they put it on His head, and a reed into His right hand." Matthew 27: 28-29

In our pride we steal the gold of glory owed to our God; and with it we make for ourselves crowns, which Satan uses to coronate us as kings of wickedness. However our Lord the King of the Universe, in all humility, accepted the crown of thorns as the rite of His coronation. Casting our stolen crowns of pride into the Furnace of Divine Love, let us fall prostrate before our King: paying Him homage in reparation for all the blasphemies; and sending Him kisses of Adoration, in reparation for all the spittle that humanity smears upon the Face of our Beloved King.

And with the voice of Mary let us pray:"Together with You my Love, let me be crowned with thorns."

4. The Carrying of the Cross

"They took Jesus, and He went out, bearing His own cross, to the place of the skull, which is called in Hebrew, Golgotha." John 19:17

Yearning to win us over by His Unfathomable Love, our Lord embraced with bitter joy that Cross which we fashioned by our sins. As He climbed the slope of Calvary, each step became as a death to His poor Heart. With each fall that He made, sending forth a light of strength to all poor sinners, that they might arise out of sin and continue along the way. Now let us console our Sorrowful Jesus by allowing Him to meet His Mother in our heart; and by carrying our cross with His very own ardent longing, to suffer out of love for God and neighbour.

And with the voice of Mary let us pray:"Together with You my Love, let me carry my cross."

5. The Crucifixion of our Lord

"Jesus, crying with a loud voice, said, 'Father, into Your hands I commit My spirit!' And having said this He breathed His Last." Luke 23:46

It was you who crucified our Lord! It
was you who nailed Him to the tree! O it was all of us who worked together in
our sin, to kill our Beloved King! O let us climb that Cross with great haste,
so as to join our lonely Lord in His final moments. It is then that our Lord
speaks with a love to melt the hardest of hearts: "Father forgive them,
for they know not what they do." O even whilst dying you think of no one
but us! And then speaking again our Lord pants: "I thirst". Here we
are then Lord, drink of our love to your heart’s content. And finally, after He
commends His spirit to the Father, He cries out: "Imma!",
"Mamma!” and dying His Sacred Head drops to the side, as the sun withdraws
behind the thickets of the clouds.

Meanwhile Your Mother faints o Lord in
the anguish of Her sorrow. And it is then that in the cruelty of our sins, we
take the lance and crudely pierce your most Sacred Heart. Then as water and
blood gush forth from the wound of our making, we are healed of the blindness
of sin. O how we thank You sweet Lord, for allowing us to pierce Your Sweet
Heart! Now let us make amends for our horrendous crimes, by joining our Mother
in Her sorrows. So together with our Mother, let us hold the dead Body of Jesus
in our arms; kissing His wounds and bathing Him clean with the water of our
tears. Now let us join John the Beloved, and rest our heads upon that Sweet
Heart, the Pillow of our Salvation. And as we lay crying upon that Heart, let
us whisper with the lips of our Holy Mother: "Rise my Glory, Rise my
Love."

And with the voice of Mary let us pray:"Together with You my Love, let me be crucified."